Peter Matika, [email protected]
HE has walked thousands of kilometres, crossed borders and braved the uncertainties of unfamiliar roads and weather conditions all for a cause he believes is bigger than himself.
Mate Subulwa, child-rights campaigner, arrived in Gokwe on Saturday and is heading towards the capital, Harare, determined to keep his Pan-African campaign against child abuse, defilement and sexual exploitation moving, even as the clock ticks on his time in the country.
For the long-distance walker, the journey is about much more than reaching another destination.
Each town, village and roadside encounter presents an opportunity to speak for children whose suffering often goes unnoticed and whose voices are too frequently silenced by fear, intimidation and abuse.
His journey through Zimbabwe has already been marked by moments of kindness, solidarity and recognition, particularly in Bulawayo, where he enjoyed a wonderful stay after crossing into the country from Botswana through Plumtree.
“The reception in the City of Kings and Queens gave me an opportunity to rest and connect with people who share my commitment to protecting children. It also brought an unexpected honour when the Council of Churches in Africa recognised my efforts with an award, acknowledging my efforts to take the child-protection message beyond national borders,” said Subulwa.
For a man whose mission has demanded extraordinary physical endurance, the recognition was another meaningful moment in a journey driven by a cause bigger than himself.
Subulwa began his Pan-African awareness walk in Livingstone, Zambia, on August 5, travelling through South Africa and Botswana before entering Zimbabwe. By the time he arrived in Bulawayo on October 25, he had covered 2 224 kilometres across the region.
His campaign, running under the banner “Africa Together, We Knock Out Child Abuse”, carries the simple but powerful message “Every Child Matters”.
“It is a reminder that protecting children is a collective responsibility that must transcend borders, cultures and nationalities,” he said.
Now, with Gokwe behind him and Harare ahead, the campaigner faces another demanding stretch of road.
He said the physical challenge is considerable, but the pressure of having only a few days left to attend to matters relating to his stay in Zimbabwe has made the journey even more pressing.
His progress is a reminder of the sacrifices often made by individuals who take up causes that affect some of society’s most vulnerable members.
He said while many campaigns are conducted in conference rooms, through speeches and awareness programmes, he chose the open road as his platform, carrying his message from one community to another, one step at a time.
“My determination is rooted in the belief that child abuse cannot be defeated through silence. Families, communities, churches and authorities must work together to identify abuse, speak out
against exploitation, report suspected cases and support those affected,” he said.
Speaking about his mission during his earlier arrival in Bulawayo, Subulwa said: “Every kilometre is for a child who cannot speak for themselves.”
It is a statement that captures the spirit of his journey, an undertaking in which the distance covered is measured not only in kilometres but also in the conversations started and the awareness raised along the way.
His campaign has also drawn support from church organisations in Zimbabwe, with the Pan African Religious Leaders Assembly partnering him to strengthen advocacy against child abuse and encourage communities to report cases.
Council for Churches in Africa president Bishop Dr Rocky Moyo has endorsed the wider continental vision, emphasising the need for churches to work together to ensure that children are protected.
“The support is significant for a campaigner and advocate who relies on community goodwill, public donations and assistance from well-wishers to sustain his long-distance walks. His earlier journey was undertaken with limited supplies, making the kindness of strangers and the generosity of communities’ important sources of encouragement,” said Dr Moyo.
Subulwa is no stranger to such demanding undertakings.
Before embarking on the regional campaign, he had undertaken long-distance awareness walks across several Zambian provinces, including Southern, Lusaka, Copperbelt, and North-Western and Western provinces.
The current expedition has taken his advocacy beyond Zambia, placing child protection on a wider Southern African platform.
His journey also comes at a time when communities across the region continue to grapple with child abuse, sexual exploitation, defilement and other forms of violence against children.
Subulwa’s appeal is that these challenges should not be treated as isolated incidents or matters that only concern the families directly affected.
The road ahead may be long and physically demanding, but Subulwa appears unwilling to allow the remaining days of his stay in Zimbabwe to overshadow the message he has spent months delivering.
“Reaching Harare is the immediate priority, but the bigger destination remains Southern Africa where children can grow up free from abuse, exploitation and fear,” he said.
